A pastry chef specializes in preparing baked goods and pastries in a restaurant or bakery. In a high-end restaurant, a pastry chef focuses on creating and preparing desserts. You can become an executive chef after gaining experience in a pastry chef role. The hospital careers website HCareers notes that executive chefs come from a variety of chef positions. You essentially work your way up through the kitchen or chef ranks to earn the top job.

Additional Information

The highest ranking position for a pastry chef is executive pastry chef. In a larger restaurant with a pastry team, this is a natural move up for an entry-level pastry chef. The executive chef oversees the entire kitchen staff. To move into this role, a pastry chef must expand his experiences to include work in preparing other foods. He must also show the ability to lead the kitchen staff and manage administrative duties of running a kitchen.